Goodbye to the hydraulic version of Atlas and hello to the electric model designed for commercialization. That’s the message from Boston Dynamics Inc., which yesterday retired the older version of its humanoid robot after 15 years of development and today showed a preview of its successor.

“The next generation of the Atlas program builds on decades of research and furthers our commitment to delivering the most capable, useful mobile robots solving the toughest challenges in the industry today: with Spot, with Stretch, and now with Atlas,” said the company in a blog post. Spot is a quadruped used in facilities inspection and other tasks, and Stretch is designed to unload trucks.

Boston Dynamics began with humanoids by sawing one of its pneumatically powered quadrupeds in half back in 2009. By 2016, the Waltham, Mass.-based company showed that its robot could walk, open a door, and maintain its balance while being shoved by a person holding a hockey stick, all without a tether.

Roboticists continued to improve Atlas, giving it a smaller form factor and more sensors, training its artificial intelligence, and enabling it to do increasingly impressive feats. They ranged from parkour and dancing to taking tools through a mock construction site.

In fact, it was that demonstration of Atlas manipulating a plank, picking up a bag of tools, and taking it to a worker that earned Boston Dynamics an RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award. The company will be exhibiting at the RBR50 Showcase at the Robotics Summit & Expo on May 1 and 2.

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Boston Dynamics evolves with the times

As capable as the YouTube darling was, the older version of Atlas still had limitations, both in range of motion and in terms of size and power usage. Boston Dynamics noted that it designed its legged robots to operate in unstructured environments, and it acknowledged that Atlas was initially a research and development project rather than a commercial product.

In the meantime, the company itself changed owners, from Google in 2013 to SoftBank in 2017 and most recently to Hyundai in 2020. Along with those changes came an increasing focus on robots such as Spot and Stretch serving industrial needs. To continue pure research, Hyundai founded the Boston Dynamics AI Institute in 2022.

“The AI Institute recently launched a new version of Spot with an API [application programming interface] designed for researchers,” said Robert Playter, CEO of Boston Dynamics. “We’re talking about how to jointly solve some big challenges — the diversity of manipulation tasks we need to do with this robot [Atlas] is huge, and AI is essential to enabling that generality.”

Playter told The Robot Report that Boston Dynamics needs results within two to three years, while the AI Institute has more of a five-year timeframe.

Robot lessons apply to fleets, new Atlas

“It takes a solid year from a clean sheet to a new robot,” said Playter. “We wanted to know that we could solve essential dexterous manipulation problems before releasing the product.”

Boston Dynamics learned numerous lessons from commercializing Spot and Stretch, he said. It has improved control policies, upgraded actuation, and minimized joint complexity. The new Atlas has three-fingered grippers.

The Orbit fleet management software, which initially applies to indoor deployments of Spot, could also help supervise Stretch and Atlas.

Atlas gets ready for mobile manipulation in industrial settings. Source: Boston Dynamics

“Everything we understood, from the time of launching Spot as a prototype to it being a reliable product deployed in fleets, is going into the new Atlas,” Playter said. “We’re confident AI and Orbit will help enhance behaviors. For instance, by minimizing slipping on surfaces at Anheuser-Busch, we proved that we can develop algorithms and make it reliable.”

“Now, 1,500 robots in our fleet have them running,” he added. “It’s essential for customers like Purina to monitor and manage fleets as a vehicle for collecting data. As we develop and download new capabilities, Orbit becomes a hub for an ecosystem of different robots.”

Safety and autonomy are basic building blocks

Boston Dynamics has considered safe collaboration in its development of the new Atlas. ASTM International is developing safety standards for legged robots.

“We recognized early on that Atlas is going to work in spaces that have people in them,” said Playter. “This sets the bar much higher than lidar with AMRs [autonomous mobile robots].”

“We started thinking about functionally safe 3D vision,” he recalled. “We started with Stretch inside a container, but ultimately, we want it going everywhere in a warehouse. Advanced, functionally safe, remote vision and onboard systems are essential to solving safety.”

While Spot and Atlas are often teleoperated, Playter said this is a necessary step toward greater levels of autonomy.

“Making the robots knowledgeable about different types of objects and how to grasp them, teleoperation is just a tool for providing examples and data to the robot,” he explained. “It’s not a useful way of building intuition, but it’s easier if you can operate robots at a higher and higher level. Like you don’t need to tell Spot where to plant its feet, you don’t want to tell Atlas where to grasp.”

In the new video below, the previous version of Atlas handles automotive parts and real products weighing up to 25 lb. (11.3 kg).

Atlas ready for rivals in the humanoid race

Over the past two years, the number of humanoid robots in development has rapidly grown. It now includes Agility Robotics‘ Digit, Tesla’s Optimus, and Figure AI‘s Figure 01. In the two past weeks alone, Rainbow Robotics, Sanctuary AI, and Mentee Robotics have all made announcements.

Investment has also been flowing to humanoid companies, with 1X Technologies raising $100 million in January, Figure AI raising $675 million in February, and Accenture investing in Sanctuary AI in March.

Humanoid robots have advanced in parallel with generative AI, and Playter said he welcomes the competition.

“There were three seminal events: Boston Dynamics got acquired for $1 billion, interest in Tesla’s robot validated what we’ve done for a long time, and the emergence of new AI holds the promise of generalization of tasks,” he said. “They’ve inspired lots of new players, but having new tech isn’t all you need to have a commercial product. You need to focus on a use case, build a reliable machine, and manufacture it in a way to build a business. We want to avoid a ‘humanoid winter,’ so rollouts have to be real.”

Playter added that practical design and proper implementation of AI will help differentiate robots rather than focusing on making them more human-like. The new version of Atlas demonstrated that point in how it stood up in the video at the top of this article.

“It’s not talking to a robot that moves the needle, but whether you can build a robot that eventually does 500 tasks,” he said. “Anthropomorphism blows things out of perspective. We did not want a human-shaped head for Atlas. We want people to remember it’s a machine and that it can move in ways humans can’t.”

The financial stability of the businesses involved will also be relevant for commercial success, said Playter. 

“It takes sustained investment; these are expensive products to launch,” he noted. “Having products already out helps build momentum.”

Atlas is humanoid — to a point. Source: Boston Dynamics

When will we see the new robot in the wild?

Boston Dynamics will begin testing the all-electric version of Atlas with parent company Hyundai and select partners next year, said Playter.

“We’re beginning in their factory,” he told The Robot Report. “In addition to the target application of a lot of parts movement — a special kind of logistics in automotive production — I think that will evolve as the dexterity of the robots improves over time.”

“We see robots in the workplace as an evolution, a continuum from Spot to Atlas,” asserted Playter. “Each product in the series informs the launch of the next.”

“Industries will have to figure out how to adapt and incorporate humanoids into their facilities,” he said. “We’ll actually see robots in the wild in factories beginning next year. We want a diversity of tasks.”

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maxon says it can provide all key components of a tightly integrated robotics drive from a single source. | Source: maxon

maxon group has launched its new drive systems portfolio specifically designed for modern robotics applications. The company said it believes that developers and startups should focus on their core value drivers and challenges and leave it to maxon to take care of key complexities typically associated with robotic actuators, including high performance, reliability, supply chains, integration, and testing. 

Modern robots require highly scalable manufacturing of complex and high-performance actuators, asserted maxon. Therefore, robustness and reliability are key, especially for systems operate in unstructured environments, the company added. maxon said this is one of its strengths because it designs and tests all of its robotics products to the highest quality standards. 

The Sachsein, Switzerland-based company’s new portfolio contains 15 different actuators divided into two families: High Efficiency Joints and High Precision Joints. It said each provides unique benefits to address a broad range of industrial applications. 

maxon’s High Efficiency Joint line

The High Efficiency Joints integrate torque-dense electric motors from maxon’s EC frameless DT motor lineup, planetary gears, electronics, sensing, and support structures into a fully integrated IP67 ingress-protected actuator unit. 

maxon said this line of joints can achieve up to 86% efficiencies and can output high continuous power, thanks to their integrated cooling capabilities. The joint line’s control system can be configured flexibly and support independent control of the joint. 

Target applications are mobile robots in unstructured environments, explained maxon. This includes humanoids, quadrupeds, exoskeletons, or mobile manipulators. The company said its systems enable roboticists to quickly create a high-performing robot that follows modern design principles such as those dictated by deep reinforcement learning and related simulation approaches. 

Thje new High-Efficiency Joint HEJ 90-48-140 provides 140 Nm and 13 rad/s at the joint, is IP67 rated, and contains electronics and sensors for modern robotics control systems. | Source: maxon

maxon targets systems integrators with High Precision Joints

The High Precision Joints are more configurable systems based on strain-wave gearboxes and high-resolution output encoders, said maxon. While these actuators also feature torque-dense electric motors, the company said it’s targeting systems integrators. It said hopes to enable them to quickly create robotics systems like collaborative or industrial manipulators or surgical robots. 

maxon’s High Precision Joints allow the creation of well-optimized robots. When combined with its customer-facing robotics design simulation, optimization, and consulting services, the company said it can ensure that customers obtain the right systems for their applications. 

maxon is a fully vertically integrated provider of actuation systems ranging from brushed to brushless motors, sensors, gears, and electronics. The company said this enables it to provide robotics actuators that are high-performing, low-cost, and adaptive to customer requirements.

maxon’s High Precision Joints feature strain-wave gearboxes with no backlash and high-resolution output encoders. | Source: maxon

See maxon at webinar and Robotics Summit & Expo

Carsten Horn, applications engineering manager at maxon, and Dario Renggli, business development engineer at maxon, will participate in a free webinar at noon EDT on Wednesday, April 17, on “Motion Control for Healthcare Robotics Applications.”

In addition, Tobias Wellerdieck, head of robotic drive systems at maxon, will be speaking at the Robotics Summit & Expo, which will be on May 1 and 2 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. His talk, “Holistic Drive System Optimization for Robotics,” will discuss the challenges that come with developing robotic systems for new, complex markets. 

maxon will also be exhibiting on the Robotics Summit & Expo show floor at Booth 327. The company is also a Gold Sponsor of the event. Registration is now open.

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Version 1.0 of the EELS robot during field testing in Alberta, Canada, in September 2023. | Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech

In a collaboration that was 17 years in the making, Carnegie Mellon University, or CMU, researchers worked with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory to create an autonomous snake-like robot. The Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor, or EELS, is a self-propelled robot. NASA scientists said they hope to use EELS to search for signs of life in the ocean beneath the icy crust of Saturn’s Enceladus moon.

EELS was developed at NASA’s JPL with collaboration from Carnegie Mellon, Arizona State University, and the University of California, San Diego. Howie Choset, CMU’s Kavčić-Moura Professor of Computer Science in the School of Computer Science, Matt Travers, a senior systems scientist at the school’s Robotics Institute (RI), and Andrew Orekhov, a project scientist in the RI, contributed to the project. 

The resulting robot can navigate extreme terrains, including ice, sand, rocks, cliff walls, deep craters, underground lava tubes, and glaciers. The CMU team developed the controllers for the robot. In addition, an early prototype used modules developed by HEBI Robotics, a university spinout that Choset founded in 2014. 

“Enceladus is essentially covered with water,” Choset told The Robot Report. “But it’s underneath the rock that forms the moon. In the South Pole, the rock and ice are about 2 km [1.2 mi.] thick, and there are geysers that spit the water out from the underground ocean into space. So, there’s a belief that if you fly a spacecraft to Enceladus, land, and then get into the geysers, you may be able to swim in this extraterrestrial ocean.” 

EELS snake robot built for space applications

“So, we’ve been working on snake robots for a very long time,” Choset said. “And what’s nice about snake robots in general, is they can use their many joints and their slender physique to thread through tightly packed volumes and get to locations that people in machinery otherwise can’t access.”

This makes snake robots good for many applications, including search and rescue, he said. In this case, EELS will use these capabilities to wriggle into cracks in Enceladus’ layer of ice. EELS stands out from other snake robots because of its “wheels.” These wheels look more like corkscrews than traditional wheels, said Choset. 

“When those corkscrews rotate, they kind of penetrate the ice a little bit, but also gives the mechanism the ability to roll forward,” he explained. “So the robot has the ability to propel itself, not only with the snake-like motion but also these corkscrew wheels that allow it to traverse icy surfaces really quickly.” 

Choset said these wheels will help the robot to better move across ice until it can find a crack or geyser hole to crawl into.

“The autonomy that we developed is the robot’s ability to get into a tight space, and then use the constraints of that tight space to propel itself forward,” he said. 

But that’s only half of the battle. Once the EELS robot has found its way into one of these holes, it has to be able to swim through Enceladus’ ocean to search for potential signs of life. Choset’s team already had experience building swimming snake robots. 

“We built a variety of snake robots, but the one we most recently built was a swimming one called HUMRS, which stands for ‘Hardened Underwater Modular Robot Snake,'” Choset said. The CMU team was able to apply what it learned while developing HUMRS to this project with NASA JPL. 

Connections bring the right people on board

Choset’s long-held connections within the industry brought him onto the EELS project, along with his expertise in designing snake-like robots. 

“I went to Caltech as a graduate student, and JPL was part of Caltech,” he said. “So, whenever there’s an opportunity to work with JPL, the Jet Propulsion Lab, I jump on it, because it reminds me of my young graduate student days.” 

It wasn’t just the chance to work with JPL that brought Choset on board, however. He was recruited by Rohan Thakkar, a researcher who worked in Choset’s group 17 years ago as a high school student. 

“I think it’s important for people to realize that it’s not just a bunch of engineers getting together to build some mechanism as if they’re reading from a recipe or a cookbook,” Choset said. “Engineering is very important, but I want people to recognize the engineers behind the engineering.”

Choset said that personal connections, like the one between him and his CMU students, are what keeps the industry running. 

Editor’s note: HEBI Robots will exhibit at Booth 448-12 at the Robotics Summit & Expo, which will be on May 1 and 2 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Registration is now open.

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State-of-the-art surgical and healthcare robotics depend on precise motion control. Source: maxon

Technological advances continue to drive growing adoption of robotics in healthcare, particularly for surgical applications. Robots promise to enhance precision and safety, with 5% to 10% of robot-assisted procedures reportedly resulting in positive patient outcomes.

The global market for surgical robots is about $18 billion and could grow to $83 billion by 2032, according to Statzon. In addition, a Bain & Co. study found that 78% of U.S. surgeons are interested in robotics, but many procedures have yet to benefit from automation.

Robotics developers, suppliers, and integrators, as well as healthcare providers and practitioners, should understand how the latest, best-in-class motion-control components can improve accuracy and enable the next generation of patient care.

Learn more about motion control for healthcare robotics applications in a free webinar at noon EDT on Wednesday, April 17.

How to build better healthcare robotics

In this webinar, Carsten Horn, applications engineering manager at maxon, and Dario Renggli, business development engineer at maxon, will join Eugene Demaitre, editorial director for robotics at WTWH Media.

Horn has more than 20 years of engineering and research and development experience with robotics. Renggli specializes in healthcare applications and works at maxon’s headquarters in Switzerland. They will discuss the following topics:

• Trends in customer demands and designing for the future
• The industry’s needs for precise actuation and motion-control systems
• The pace of healthcare robotics development
• How regulatory requirements affect the design of surgical systems
• Common challenges for healthcare robot controls
• Considerations for off-the-shelf components and subassemblies versus custom designs
• The growing importance of software and artificial intelligence
• How to identify and partner with product and service providers

Register now to watch this webinar and have your questions answered live. This robotics engineering conversation will be available on demand after the broadcast date.

Sponsors:

The post Webinar: Learn about motion control for healthcare robotics applications appeared first on The Robot Report.

igus relies on AI-supported low-cost robotics, smart maintenance, and AI-based online tools like the igusGO app to get customer applications ready for Industry 4.0. | Source: igus

igus GmbH will be introducing igusGO, an AI-powered app, alongside a series of smart sensor technologies at Hannover Messe. The company said it designed its latest sensor technologies “to streamline maintenance and optimize production processes for the lubrication-free industry of tomorrow.”

The Cologne, Germany-based company said igusGO is the centerpiece of its innovation. The app uses artificial intelligence to instantly identify optimization opportunities for designers using motion plastics. 

The app simplifies the selection process without the need for traditional catalog browsing, according to igus. The company said the app reflects its commitment to enhancing operational reliability and cost-efficiency across various applications, from heavy-duty machinery to everyday devices. 

“Our aim with igusGO and our suite of smart products is to navigate the vast potential of motion plastics with unprecedented efficiency and transparency,” stated Tobias Vogel, CEO of plain bearings and linear technology at igus.

Michael Blass, CEO of E-Chain Systems, added that innovations such as superwise, a digital service for comprehensive maintenance insights, can bolster competitiveness during challenging times. 

“By merging our innovative products with digital services, we’re demonstrating how our motion plastics can significantly enhance a wide array of applications, driving them towards a more sustainable and technologically advanced future,” he said.

The benefits of polymer bearings

igus cited its collaboration with RWTH Aachen University as an example of the economic and ecological advantages that its polymer bearings offer. They could result in potential savings of up to $14.9 million (€14 million) annually. 

Polymer bearings can also provide substantial CO₂ reductions, as exemplified by Heineken Brazil’s savings of 396.8 lb. (180 kg) of CO₂ equivalents per year through the switch to polymer bearings, said igus. 

igus also offers affordable, precise automation

igus also offers low-cost automation. The Rumford, R.I.-based company has introduced user-friendly robotics with AI-based voice and gesture control, exemplified by the ReBeL collaborative robot and its plug-and-play capabilities.

The company won a 2024 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award for its $2,760 finger gripper for the cobot. igus said these advancements are complemented by its RBTX online marketplace, which facilitates access to compatible accessories and promotes an inclusive approach to automation for companies of all sizes. 

Earlier this year, igus launched a double-shaft stepper motor for its drylin linear technology. The company said the double-shaft design allows for precise control over linear motion, enabling a range of automation, transfer-station, and format-adjustment applications.

Editor’s note: At the Robotics Summit & Expo, which will be held in Boston, igus will exhibit at Booth 414. The company will also participate in a session on “Democratizing Automation” at 2:45 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 1. Register now to attend.

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AMP’s MDX+ servo drive family. | Source: Applied Motion Products

Applied Motion Products Inc. this week introduced its MDX+ series family of low-voltage systems that integrate a servo drive, a motor, and an encoder into one package. The family includes systems with 100, 200, 400, and 550 W power output. 

The Morgan Hill, Calif.-based company said this product line supports pulse train-based control methods including Pulse/Direction, CW/CCW, and encoder following. It also supports RS-485, CANopen, and EtherCAT.

In addition, Applied Motion Products (AMP) said it offers packages with electromagnetic brakes “to meet the safety requirements of today’s industries and will soon provide STO [safe torque off].” The company claimed that its MDX+ servo series is suitable for manufacturers in logistics, automated guided vehicle (AGV), medical, semiconductor, packaging, textile, electronic inspection, and solar industries, among others.

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Applied Motion Products shares servo specs

AMP said it designed the MDX+ series to be small and compact. This way, it is smaller but as capable as stand-alone motor and drive systems, it asserted.

The company added that this design, which is at least 20% smaller than that of standalone solutions, can be helpful for applications with limited installation space. 

The MDX+ servo drive is debugged by Luna software. AMP said Luna can assist users with configuration, tuning, and troubleshooting the MDX+ family. The software and drive are connected via USB for fast and reliable communications. 

Applied Motion Products listed the following features of the MDX+ family:

• Drive and motor integration offers a compact design
• Main power supports 24-60 VDC, Auxiliary power supports 24 VDC
• Standardized frame sizes of 40/60/80mm, covering a power range 100W to 550W
• EtherCAT, CANopen and RS-485 options
• Equipped with a 17-bit magnetic incremental encoder or 17-bit batteryless absolute encoder
• Accurate positioning and control
• Support position, velocity, and torque controls
• Built-in brake option is available
• IP20 or IP65 options available

Founded in 1978, Applied Motion Products said it manufactures high-performance motion-control components for OEMs for a broad range of applications. In 2014, the company formed a joint venture with Moons’ Shanghai, a leader in motion control and intelligent lighting. 

AMP said the partnership enables it to provide its customers with supply chain reliability and vertical integration. The partners have research and development centers and more than 200 patents for inventions, utility models, appearances, and software copyrights.

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Harmonic Drive will discuss the requirements for compact, power-dense actuation for reliable robotics. Credit: Adobe Stock

Next-generation collaborative robots, mobile manipulators, and even humanoid robots need motion control systems that can operate in space-constrained designs and that provide high performance and reliability. At the 2024 Robotics Summit & Expo, Harmonic Drive LLC will discuss how to address this challenge.

Conventional actuators and cabling can require additional functionality that can compromise power density, noted the company. Brian Coyne, vice president of engineering at Harmonic Drive, will offer a potential solution in a session on “Developing a Low-Profile, Power-Dense Actuator to Meet the Demands of Current Robot Designs.”

The Enabling Technologies discussion will be at 11:30 a.m. ET on the first day of the Robotics Summit, Wednesday, May 1, in Room 257A in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

Coyne will explain how Harmonic Drive developed its LPA-20 actuator to optimize power density while integrating a servo drive with options for CANopen or EtherCAT communication protocols. He will also welcome questions from attendees.

About Brian Coyne and Harmonic Drive

Coyne is vice president of engineering at Harmonic Drive. He has applied his mechatronics expertise to helping the company develop and launch its mini-actuator line. Coyne’s team is currently working on new product lines with advanced features.

Before coming to Harmonic Drive, Coyne spent 15 years at Assembly and Automation Technology (AAT). Prior to that, he attended Tufts University, where he developed his appreciation and understanding for custom machine design and processes. Coyne holds a BSME and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) from Tufts University.

With more than 60 years of experience, Harmonic Drive makes high-precision, zero-backlash strain-wave and planetary gears. The Beverly, Mass.-based company also provides precision servo actuators, gearheads, and gear components sets for Fortune 500 companies and businesses of all sizes.

Harmonic Drive components support industrial and surgical robotics, spaceflight applications, semiconductor manufacturing, factory automation, and medical diagnostics. Robotics Summit & Expo attendees can learn about its motion-control technologies at Booth 101 in Hall C.

Register for the Robotics Summit & Expo

The Robotics Summit & Expo focuses on the design, development, and scaling of commercial robots. WTWH Media, which also produces The Robot Report, said it expects a record 5,000 attendees and more than 200 exhibitors.

Keynotes will feature luminaries from Agility Robotics, Amazon Robotics, Teradyne, Disney Research, and Medtronic. The event will also include various networking opportunities, a Women in Robotics breakfast, a startup showcase, and more!

New to the summit is the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards Gala. It will include a cocktail hour, dinner, and a chance to hear from the Robot of the Year, Startup of the Year, and Application of the Year winners. Each RBR50 winner will receive two complimentary tickets to the Robotics Summit and RBR50 gala. A limited number of tickets is available, but they’re selling fast!

The Robotics Summit will be co-located with DeviceTalks, an event focused on medical devices, and the inaugural Digital Transformation Forum. Registration is now open for the event.

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SwRI Workbench for Offline Robotics Development allows manufacturing engineers to independently use complex robotics and simplifies motion planning for seasoned developers. Source: Southwest Research Institute

An industry push for more automation is advancing the Robot Operating System, or ROS, beyond the academic and manufacturing domains into agriculture, automotive, retail, healthcare and more. Various forecasts project that the open-source advanced robotics market will grow more than 10% annually between 2024 and 2029.

These trends are motivating for robotics engineers at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and our colleagues at the ROS-Industrial Consortium and supporting industries. We also recognize that the usability of robotics software is still an impediment to even higher levels of adoption.

Over the years, the ROS-I Consortium has held frequent roadmapping sessions with a wide variety of end users and ROS developers to address ease of use and continuing education. The identified need is a lower barrier of entry for non-programmers (or entry-level developers) to harness the power of tools in the ROS ecosystem, but in a way that aligns with industry adoption of digital thread and Industry 4.0 strategies.

The traditional ROS workflow is software programming-intense, requiring developers deeply familiar with available ROS libraries and tools. Even experienced developers within the ROS-I ecosystem and beyond may spend significant time — days to weeks — on the initial setup and configuration of a ROS application.

Listening to the voice of our own developers, our diverse stakeholders, and consortium members, we heard the need for easier access to the ROS motion-planning tools, while maintaining a tie back to the CAD ecosystem where the products to be worked on are conceived and maintained.

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SWORD is a graphical toolkit for robotics developers

The Southwest Research Institute is launching the SwRI Workbench for Offline Robotics Development (SWORD) featuring a graphical toolkit for developing and testing advanced robotic motion-planning applications.

SWORD is implemented as a plugin to the open-source FreeCAD application, allowing users to integrate robotics capabilities into a cross-platform CAD environment. It provides a graphical interface to many powerful motion-planning libraries.

The goal is to bring ROS to a manufacturing/industrial audience in a way that is more approachable and resides in an environment that is familiar. Most manufacturing engineers are competent with CAD and understand their processes, often doing various forms of programs on process-oriented systems.

SWORD seeks to bring advanced motion-planning capability to this audience enabling to set up their systems and take advantage of these more advanced tools in their operational environments. Through the first Beta test, the team at SwRI has collected feedback from end users and is nearing the release the first version of SWORD. SWORD currently offers the capabilities below:

Environment modeling

• Create workcell model (robot, fixtures, end-of-arm tooling); see Figure 1 below.

  • Use CAD modeling tools or import existing CAD/mesh models

  • Use Convex Hull and Decomposition tools to generate collision geometry

• Import and export URDF (Unified Robotics Description Format) files

• Manipulate robot position

  • Joint Sliders to control individual joint positions

  • TCP Dragger to simulate movement using various IK solver

Figure 1: An example of URDF creation and evaluation in SWORD. Click here to enlarge. Source: Southwest Research Institute

Command language

• Define robot motion using either Cartesian or Joint waypoints

  • Currently waypoints must be manually defined, but import and CAD-generated waypoints are planned for an upcoming release.

• Specify different move segment types (joint/cartesian) and motion groups

• Insert supplementary commands (I/O, delays, etc.)

Motion planning

• Generate motion plan using a variety of Tesseract-supported path planners

  • Currently uses default Profiles (configuration) for each planner, but profile editing is planned for an upcoming release.

• Create custom planning pipelines for application-specific behavior; see Figure 2 below.

• Compute the Allowed Collision Matrix

  • Currently no way to review or adjust the results, but this functionality is planned for an upcoming release.

• Review computed motion trajectory

SWORD is officially released, and seats are available. You can request a trial version to understand if it is right for your organization. If you are interested in a trial license, or want to learn more or get a guided tour from SwRI, please contact Jeremy Zoss or Matt Robinson.

Figure 2: Setting up a motion planning pipeline for testing and evaluation in SWORD. Click here to enlarge. Source: Southwest Research Institute

About the author and the Southwest Research Institute

Matthew Robinson is program manager for ROS-Industrial Consortium Americas at the Southwest Research Institute. He was previously research team leader and a graduate fellow at the Edison Welding Institute. Robinson has participated in RoboBusiness Direct and has an M.S.W.E. from The Ohio State University.

Since 1947, the nonprofit SwRI in San Antonio, Texas, has taken a multidisciplinary approach to research and development for government and industry clients.

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Mecademic Absolute Calibration is intended to improve performance, mitigate risk, and shorten robot deployment times. | Source: Mecademic

Mecademic, a developer of compact, high-precision industrial robots, this week announced Mecademic Absolute Calibration, or MAC. It is a service that the company said can enhance its robots’ accuracy “out of the box.” 

The Montreal, Canada-based company claimed that MAC demonstrates its ability to deliver robots that meet critical precision and accuracy requirements and eliminates the need for third-party calibration services. 

“The development of our Absolute Calibration service stems from a commitment to uphold the high quality standards we set for our products and to fully leverage our robots’ capabilities,” stated Ilian Bonev, co-founder of Mecademic and professor of industrial robotics at École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS), a public research university in Montreal.

“This advancement reflects our dedication to innovation and excellence,” he added. “It provides our clients with a solution ready to integrate and operate right out of the box without needing external calibration. This capability is a game-changer for industries requiring utmost precision and accuracy in their operations.”

MAC addresses demanding industrial applications

Mecademic said it created MAC to service industries where the slightest deviation can affect the outcome, such as optics, photonics, electronics, medical devices, and aerospace and automotive components. The company said the service ensures that its robots meet the rigorous demands of micro-application automation.

The MAC service enhances robots with advanced calibration techniques. These include the use of coordinate measuring machines (CMM) to meet or exceed the highest standards of accuracy, according to the company. 

By integrating this service in-house, Mecademic asserted that it offers “a seamless, efficient solution that enhances performance, mitigates risk, and shortens deployment times across all applications requiring high-precision automation.”

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Mecademic offers a range of robots, tools

Mecademic offers a range of compact systems for highly precise operations, including:

• MECA500: A small and compact six-axis industrial robot arm, the Meca500 works as a plug-and-work automation component, making it easy into integrate with a computer or programmable logic controller (PLC). The company built it for inspection and testing, as well as laboratory automation. 
• MCS500 SCARA: This SCARA robot is designed for straightforward integration so that it can deliver for maximum efficiency and precision immediately. It said this robot is suitable for pick-and-place, assembly, lab automation, and other applications. 
• End-of-arm tooling (EOAT): Mecademic has designed three different end effectors, two electric parallel grippers, and one pneumatic module. The company said its tools offer nearly universal compatibility, making them easy to integrate with robots. 
• Software: Mecademic has two software offerings. The first is MecaPortal, a Web interface that allows users to interact with its robots in multiple ways. The second is RoboDK for Mecademic Robots. This is a Mecademic-specific version of the simulation and offline robot programming tool. 

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Portescap and Kollmorgen will discuss motion control at the Robotics Summit & Expo. Credit: Adobe Stock

Portescap, a global leader in micro-motion solutions for the robotics industry, has announced that it will be exhibiting at the Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston from May 1-2, 2024.

The West Chester, Pa.-based company will exhibit at Booth 144 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Its team will show products for demanding robotics applications, including frameless motors and flat motors that can easily integrate with strain-wave gearing.

“Frameless motors bypass the use of a traditional housing with integrated bearings for direct integration into mechanical assemblies, enabling compactness, weight savings, and efficiency gains,” wrote Nicole Monaco, global marketing manager at Portescap. “Pairing flat motors with strain-wave gearing offers high reduction ratios, low backlash, and superior positional accuracy, offering exceptional torque and precise motion control for critical robotic applications.”

Founded in Switzerland in 1931, Portescap said its miniature motor technologies can support medical devices and various industrial applications such as aerospace. The company added that its brushless DC, brush DC, stepper can stack motors, disc magnet motors, and stepper linear actuators deliver motion in a compact package with high efficiency and low power consumption.

Portescap has manufacturing centers in the U.S. and India, and its product development network includes research and development centers in the U.S., China, India and Switzerland.

Portescap and Kollmorgen to discuss design for peak performance

Regal Rexnord acquired Portescap last year, and the company joined its Automation & Motion Control group. Kollmorgen, a fellow Regal Rexnord brand, will be exhibiting adjacent to Portescap at Booth 142 at the Robotics Summit & Expo.

Portescap and Kollmorgen will together present the topic: “Design for Peak Performance: Motion-Control System Selection in Next-Gen Robotics” on Wednesday, May 1, at 1:45 p.m. ET. Greg Harnsberger, senior manager for global industry marketing at Portescap, and Yoshi Umeno, industry manager at Kollmorgen, will discuss how to design robots for peak performance.

The speakers will discuss how to select the right motor, evaluate the latest innovations, and integrate technologies. They will also present real-world case studies on how motion control enables everything from surgical robotics to humanoids.

To learn more about Portescap and its micro-motion systems, visit www.portescap.com or contact it at portescap.sales.america@regalrexnord.com. The DMA News Portal hosts its press releases.

About the 2024 Robotics Summit & Expo

This will be the largest Robotics Summit & Expo ever. It will include up to 5,000 attendees, more than 200 exhibitors, various networking opportunities, a Women in Robotics breakfast, a career fair, an engineering theater, a startup showcase, and more!

New to the event is the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards Gala. The event will include a cocktail hour, plated dinner, photo opportunities, and the chance to hear from the Robot of the Year, Startup of the Year, and Application of the Year winners.

Each RBR50 winner will receive two complimentary tickets to the Robotics Summit and RBR50 gala. A limited number of tickets is available to attendees, but they’re selling fast!

The Robotics Summit will be co-located with DeviceTalks, an event focused on medical devices, and the inaugural Digital Transformation Forum. Registration is now open for the event.

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Olis Robotics error-recovery system will be available with all Kawasaki robot models starting in Q2. Source: Business Wire

Olis Robotics and Kawasaki Robotics Inc. said yesterday that they will jointly offer robots and controls to enable customers to restart production faster, reduce troubleshooting and downtime costs by up to 90%, and gain access to expert support more quickly.

“We’re seeing a growing demand for remote robot monitoring and recovery capabilities,” stated Paul Marcovecchio, director of the General Industries business unit at Kawasaki Robotics, in a release. “Adding Olis to our industrial robots is a game changer for the market.”

“Our new partnership supports the industry gamut, from smaller first-time end users and their integrator partners up to more complex AI-driven applications in larger plants,” he said. “All stakeholders can now easily and cost-effectively monitor, access and recover their robot cells remotely.”

Marcovecchio added that Olis Robotics has taken the time to understand the adaptation barriers. “As a result, they created a powerful tool that also addresses end-user concerns such as cybersecurity or the need to retrofit machines,” he said.

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Olis Robotics offers remote monitoring and control

Olis Robotics claimed that it is a leader in remote error recovery for industrial robots. The Seattle-based company said that by providing the best remote-control user experience, it can “catalyze automation adoption.”

Founded in 2013 as a spinout from the University of Washington’s Applied Physics Lab, Olis said it has built on over a decade of telerobotics research and development conducted with the U.S. Navy and NASA. When robots fail, the company claimed that its flagship Olis system delivers the data needed for remote monitoring, control, and troubleshooting.

The company also said its users can connect directly to their robots through an on-premise device via a secure connection, avoiding the risks and complexities associated with cloud-based systems. To ensure physical safety, Olis is designed to always obey the robot controller’s safety restrictions.

Kawasaki and partners to demo palletizing at MODEX

Wixom, Mich.-based Kawasaki Robotics (USA) Inc. said it has incorporated more than 50 years of experience with industrial automation for a wide range of applications and markets. The company said it provides a set of standard features on all of its robot models.

At Booth C5475 at MODEX 2024 in Atlanta from March 11 to 14, Kawasaki and Olis Robotics plan to showcase their partnership with CRG Automation, a Louisville, Ky.-based integrator. They will demonstrate a “state-of-the-art” robotic corner board system, integrated with a mixed palletizing and depalletizing cell.

The cell will feature a Kawasaki RS007L robot placing corner boards on pallets being wrapped to ensure overall load stability. The system can handle multiple SKUs of unstructured products.

It will be equipped with Olis Robotics remote error-recovery software, so attendees can see how it alerts users when the robot unexpectedly stops or when it fails to pick or place a part. After such a system failure, the attendees can use Olis to run a tool-inspection routine and perform remote error recovery, allowing the robot to resume its cycle and get back to work.

Fredrik Ryden, CEO of Olis Robotics, noted that Kawasaki robots are built to last for decades, giving end users maximum control of a highly customizable product. “Kawasaki’s commitment to a world-class buying experience and quick ROI [return on investment] in a wide range of applications is a perfect match for Olis,” he said.

Ryden asserted that Kawasaki’s extensive integrator network is another key factor in the new partnership, as Olis provides integrators time-saving bandwidth through the remote support capabilities, enabling them to grow up to 25% faster.

“We’re incredibly excited to start working with Kawasaki integrators to deploy and retrofit Olis units with Kawasaki robot arms,” he added. “It’s a win-win for both the integrator and their customers.”

The Olis remote monitoring and error recovery system will be available for any Kawasaki robot model starting the second quarter of 2024.

Learn more about Kawasaki Robotics here, watch robot application videos here and connect on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn

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Applied Motion Products introduced its M5 Servo Series. The company said the M5 Servo Series is engineered for high machine performance, exceptional torque output, and precise control. It is designed to work with a variety of robots, including robotic arms, surgical robots, and many more.

The new lineup offers servo motors in frame sizes of 40, 60, 80, 100 and 130mm and a power range of 100W to 3kW (up to 11 Nm rated torque). Applied Motion Products (AMP) said the line offers a continuous torque rating up to 11.5 Nm. AMP also said the design can feature planetary with helical gears or straight gears. The available output types include straight shaft, right angle, flange mounts. AMP also said custom options are available.

“The M5 series servo motors and drives with fast dynamic response, advanced safety features, and a broad range of industrial network options represent an unrivaled combination of performance and cost-effectiveness for our customers,” Don Macleod, CEO of Applied Motion Products.

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The M5 Servo Drives are compatible with select high resolution 17/21/23/26-bit encoders for accurate positioning. AMP said the drives support industry safety features such as dynamic braking, secondary encoders, E-Stop, and STO. They come with software with auto-tuning, multi-axis tuning, notch filter design, settling time optimization and more.

AMP also said the software offers command tracking algorithms that remove errors during acceleration, deceleration and steady state travel. AMP’s adaptive algorithms can help minimize errors from additive mechanical sources such as changes in load, external forces and friction, the company said.

Applied Motion Products was founded in 1978. In 2014, it formed a joint venture with Moons’ Shanghai, a leader in motion control and intelligent lighting. Applied Motion Products said this joint venture partnership enables it to provide it customers with supply chain reliability and vertical integration through a greater range of resources and manufacturing capabilities.

Applied Motion Products M5 Servo Series

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The range of manipulation tasks that robots can carry out is growing, according to FAULHABER. It includes everything from grasping and holding to clamping and screwing, as well as foaming and welding, said the German company.

When it comes to standardized mass production, specialized robots can perform the same tasks day and night. But many processes require flexibility, such as when it comes to batch size 1. This is also important to save on investment costs. The greater the range of tasks that a robot can carry out, the better, FAULHABER said in a blog post.

Tool changer with brushless flat motor. Source: FAULHABER

Intelligent Peripherals for Robots (IPR) aims to solve these problem with its TKX tool changer. Mounted to the end of a robot arm, it can remove a variety of tools from a rack, according to IPR.

For example, TKX enables the robot to first grip and position a workpiece, then process it with tools, and finally check and document the quality with a contour sensor or a camera. For this, the adapter needs suitable feed-throughs for the corresponding tool functions.

The TKX series provides options, as well as several lateral screw-on surfaces for additional modules. However, the main task of the tool changer is to securely lock the tool when it is picked up and to quickly and consistently release the lock again when it is set down after use.

Applications determine chose of pneumatic or electric

Traditionally, many industrial applications use pneumatic power transmissions, said FAULHABER. Compressed-air technology has proven itself over decades, and it is suitable for handling very heavy objects, the company noted. But a pneumatic system requires compressors, lines, and its own control system with numerous mechanical components – a considerable investment in new systems.

In industries with increased demands on cleanliness and hygiene, such as microelectronics or food, pneumatics are out of the question because of the unavoidable emission of compressed air. And pneumatics are an absolute no-go in clean rooms. Eppingen, Germany-based IPR said it has seen a significant trend towards the use of electric drives instead of pneumatic ones.

“In addition to the hygienic safety, electric motors are much more flexible in use,” said the company. “Unlike compressed air connections, power sockets are available almost anywhere.”

“In newly built industrial plants, pneumatic systems are generally no longer installed,” IPR added. “For cobots and smaller robots as well as for decentralized locations, the electric version is almost always the better solution.”

The fact that the electric drive is a real alternative to pneumatics today also has something to do with motor technology, explained Roman Batz, development engineer at IPR.

“Great strides have been made in recent years,” he said. “For our applications, we basically need a lot of power with very small dimensions. FAULHABER offers motors that can easily hold their own compared to pneumatic drives.”

FAULHABER motors to open, close, and hold

Holding up is also meant quite literally here. Currently, the most powerful electric model in the TKX series, the TKE 300, is suitable for handling objects weighing up to 300 kg (661.3 lb.), said IPR.

In metal processing, robots can handle heavy loads such as cast blocks or large forged parts. The pulling force of their overall mass then acts upon the locking ring in the TKX changer.

The torque supplied by the motor in standby mode would be enough for safe holding. But to ensure particularly reliable fixation, IPR has also installed self-retaining kinematics, which were developed in-house.

“A brushless motor from the FAULHABER BXT family provides the driving force for opening, closing, and holding,” FAULHABER said. “With its external rotor technology, it achieves a ratio of torque to weight and volume that is unrivaled on the market. This power density is one of the prerequisites for the unique selling point of the new product family from IPR.”

“The TKX series are the first tool changers on the market that are available on the same platform with both pneumatic and electric drives – we also have a manual version in the product range,” Batz said. “This means that the entire range of accessories can be used with all drive types without retooling. And switching to electric operation is also quite easy. This opens up new possibilities for robotic automation.”

IPR’s TKX tool changer includes an electric FAULHABER motor. Source: FAULHABER

Components designed to be reliable, easy to combine

The TKE changers will be available in seven sizes for handling workpieces from 3 to 300 kg (6.6 to 661.3 lb.), according to IPR. The electric variant of the product family thus covers a wide range of applications, from lightweight robots to stationary applications. The dimensions of the BXT motors used are adapted to the application.

“The range of sizes and the large selection of suitable gears for the optimum reduction in each case was an important criterion for us,” Batz said. “Robots should be able to achieve seven-digit cycle numbers without maintenance. So only a brushless motor with the highest possible processing quality can be used. It should be easy to control and manage without additional control – the integrated speed controller takes care of that. Last but not least, the components have to be able to withstand temperatures of up to +80°C.”

IPR procures all of its micromotors from FAULHABER. “We started working together many years ago, long before my time,” Batz said. In addition to the unique quality of the products, other aspects play an important role for him.

“It starts with the very simple design of motor-gear combinations on the FAULHABER website,” said Batz. “It takes just a few clicks to get a comprehensive overview. The technical details are very well documented, and when it comes to precisely calculating the finer points – efficiency, power consumption, temperature development over time, etc. — I always get the support I need.”

An example IPR workcell with the robotic tool changer. Source: FAULHABER

Editor’s note: This article was syndicated with permission from FAULHABER’s blog.

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The 08ECP20 Ultra EC motor joins Portescap’s BLDC portfolio. | Credit: Portescape

Portescap, a developer of miniature motion solutions, recently introduced the 08ECP20 brushless DC slotless motor. Portescap said this mini actuation solution is designed for engineers looking to downsize devices and applications without compromising on performance or reliability.

The company said the 08ECP20 is the smallest frame size in its Ultra EC portfolio. The 8mm motor includes Portescap’s proprietary Ultra EC winding and an optimized bearing assembly that the company said enables the brushless motor to achieve speeds up to 60,000 rpm.

Portescap also recently released the M-Sense12A, the first autoclavable encoder to join its product lineup and an expansion of its surgical solutions capabilities. Portescap said this encoder has been optimized for surgical robotic applications and can survive up to 2,000+ sterilization cycles, with its autoclavable design allowing it to be used within surgical devices requiring precise positioning of the motor’s rotor. It is compatible with Portescap’s existing portfolio of surgical motors.

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The M-Sense12A magnetic encoder provides a resolution range up to 1024 lines and accuracy up to 1.5 degrees, making it a potential fit for surgical applications requiring accurate positioning and closed-loop motion feedback. This encoder is also able to work accurately at high input speeds, Portescap said, with a maximum input speed of 120 kRPM at 1024 lines/rev in incremental mode. Incremental and absolute feedback options are available.

Portescap’s Greg Harnsberger, senior manager of global industry marketing, will be speaking at the Robotics Summit & Expo, which takes place May 1-2 in Boston. Harnsberger and Yoshi Umeno, industry manager, global medical & robotics at Kollmorgen, will discuss “Design for Peak Performance: Motion Control System Selection in Next-Gen Robotics” from 1:45-2 PM on May 1.

The talk will dive into the critical factors impacting motor selection across joint sizes, from high-torque motors replacing hydraulics to miniature motors for smooth and precise end-effector motion. It will also uncover the secrets to seamless communication from feedback devices and teach attendees how to engineer an optimized motor system.

Kollmorgen and Portescap are both owned by Regal Rexnord.

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The versatile double-shaft stepper motor enables two functionalities in one compact device. Source: igus GmbH

Robot applications depend on the precision of their primary components. igus GmbH last week said it has developed a new double-shaft stepper motor for its drylin linear technology. The Cologne, Germany-based company said the double-shaft design allows for precise control over linear motion, enabling a range of automation, transfer-station, and format-adjustment applications.

“This design offers greater flexibility in the connection and drive of mechanical components,” explained Rene Erdmann, head of the drylin E business unit at igus, in a release. “We can now drive two mechanical loads, such as two parallel linear axes, with just one motor.”

igus, whose U.S. headquarters are in Rumford, R.I., said its new stepper motor provides an easy introduction to automation for developers, machine builders, and integrators.

igus supports precise, versatile robot applications

Stepper motors move to precise designated positions in millimeter increments, making them suitable for applications requiring accuracy and controlled motion, noted igus. The new double-shaft stepper motor can enhance versatility and performance, the company claimed.

Unlike traditional single-shaft versions, this innovative motor has dual output shafts, igus said. The twin-shaft mechanism enhances precision across an array of automation technologies, it added. It also expands possibilities for linear positioning systems such as drylin from igus.

This saves space and reduces costs because the motor is available at the same price as a single stepper motor, and the user does not have to purchase a second coupling, said igus. The company offers gantry and cartesian robots using drylin linear rails.

One motor for three functions

In conventional double-axis drives, the motor is installed at the side and can cause space problems, explained Michael Rielly, head of public relations and trade shows at igus Inc. By contrast, the double-shaft stepper motor is located between the axes, making optimum use of the available installation space, he said.

Another advantage of the double-shaft stepper motor is that it provides the option of mounting a hand wheel at the second shaft end, according to igus. This allows the motor to also be turned by hand so that users can manually set the zero point of a linear axis, it said.

In addition, users can adjust a self-locking lead screw axis manually by turning the hand wheel, such as in the event of a power failure. This is particularly important in areas such as entrances or doors.

Editor’s note: At the Robotics Summit & Expo, which will be held in Boston, igus will exhibit at Booth 414. The company will also participate in the panel on “Democratizing Automation” at 2:45 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 1. Register now to attend.

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